2/11 Spurgeon

“And they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.”
— Acts 4:13
A Christian should be a striking likeness of Jesus Christ. You have read
lives of Christ, beautifully and eloquently written, but the best life of
Christ is His living biography, written out in the words and actions of His
people. If we were what we profess to be, and what we should be, we
should be pictures of Christ; yea, such striking likenesses of Him, that the
world would not have to hold us up by the hour together, and say, “Well,
it seems somewhat of a likeness;” but they would, when they once beheld
us, exclaim, “He has been with Jesus; he has been taught of Him; he is like
Him; he has caught the very idea of the holy Man of Nazareth, and he
works it out in his life and every-day actions.” A Christian should be like
Christ in his boldness. Never blush to own your religion; your profession
will never disgrace you: take care you never disgrace that. Be like Jesus,
very valiant for your God. Imitate Him in your loving spirit; think kindly,
speak kindly, and do kindly, that men may say of you, “He has been with
Jesus.” Imitate Jesus in His holiness. Was He zealous for His Master? So
be you; ever go about doing good. Let not time be wasted: it is too
precious. Was He self-denying, never looking to His own interest? Be the
same. Was He devout? Be you fervent in your prayers. Had He deference
to His Father’s will? So submit yourselves to Him. Was He patient? So
learn to endure. And best of all, as the highest portraiture of Jesus, try to
forgive your enemies, as He did; and let those sublime words of your
Master, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do,” always
ring in your ears. Forgive, as you hope to be forgiven. Heap coals of fire on
the head of your foe by your kindness to him. Good for evil, recollect, is
godlike. Be godlike, then; and in all ways and by all means, so live that all
may say of you, “He has been with Jesus.”